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HEXHAM

Graham, N., Sgt., 1943
In Reichswald Forest War Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of 1289237 Sergeant Newall Graham, serving Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died 23/06/1943.

Newall Graham was serving with 90 Squadron. He was a crew member of Short Stirling III BK804 WP-J. It was lost on June 23rd 1943, it was shot down whilst on a mission to Mulheim, and crashed at Duisberg-Beeck. Three of the crew baled out, but three, including Sgt Newall Graham, were murdered by the Gestapo.

Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: 1943; W.R. Chorley; 1996; Midland Counties Publications; ISBN 0 904597 90 3 page 200.

There was no doubt, however, about the fate of three of the crew of Short Stirling BK804, 90 Squadron, that was shot down on the night of 22/23 June 1943 (Mulheim). It crashed near the railway station at Duisburg-Beek with four of the crew still in it. Sergeants N Graham, R Hammond and D Sanders, though, parachuted to what they must have thought was safety, but were captured and then shot by Ortsgruppenleiter Willi Lugger, assisted by Willi Henk and a man called Bollert.

Footprints On The Sands Of Time page 199.

150 Short Stirlings Mk 1s and Mark IIIs, were delivered between September 1942 to June 1943 by Austin Motor Company, Longbridge to Contract No B.982939/C36. Aircraft Numbers BK592 to BK628, BK644 to BK667, BK686 to BK727, BK759 to BK 784 and BK798 to BK818.

Source: Aeroplane Illustrated 2015

Tony Hibberd has offered the following:

Stirling BK804 WP-J had departed Wratting Common at 2326 for Ops Mulheim. It was engaged by the following Flak units; 4/schw Flak Abt 444, 1 & 2/schw Flak Abt 447, 4/schw Flak Abt 546, 4/schw Flak Abt 401 and 3/schw Flak Abt 902, hit and shot down. The aircraft crashed at Duisburg-Beeck at 0129

Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part 2 Dr Theo Boiten

Newall Graham is remembered at Hexham on H51.24 and in page 23 of H51.25


Rotherham War Memorial
A Story of the flight featuring other crew members
The CWGC entry for Sergeant Graham

If you know more about this person, please send the details to janet@newmp.org.uk